Variety of Hydrangea plant named ‘Strabru’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hydrangea  plant having double flowers and dark green leaves.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Varietal denomination: ‘STRABRU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant known by the varietal name ‘Strabru’. The new variety was discovered in 2010 in a planned breeding program in Ermelo, The Netherlands. The purpose of the breeding program was to develop unique Hydrangeas with double flowers. The new variety is the result of a cross between breeding selection Seedling 08003-2 (female parent, unpatented) and Seedling 10014-6 (male parent, unpatented). The compact nature of ‘Strabru’ is similar to its female parent, but it differs from Seedling 08003-2 in leaf color and exhibition of double flowers. The bright flower color of ‘Strabru’ is similar to its male parent, but it differs from Seedling 08003-2 in its exhibition of double flowers. Further, when compared to Hydrangea plant named ‘Côte d'Azur’ (unpatented), ‘Strabru’ is similar to ‘Côte d'Azur’ in leaf color and its compact nature. However, ‘Strabru’ differs from ‘Côte d'Azur’ in flower color and its exhibition of double flowers. The new variety was first asexually reproduced in 2012 via propagation by cuttings in Ermelo, The Netherlands. The new variety has been trial and field tested in Ermelo, The Netherlands and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations.

The following traits distinguish ‘Strabru’ as a new and distinct cultivar from other Hydrangea varieties known to the breeder:

-   -   1. Exhibition of double flowers; and     -   2. Dark green leaf color.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety at two years old, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is close-up photograph of the flowers of the new variety; and

FIG. 2 is another photograph of the same plant of the new variety of FIG. 1, whereby color differences of the flowers are due to differences in the flowering stage of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth characteristics of the new cultivar. The plants were grown in 15 cm. pots, 8 plants per m², in ordinary potting soil with granulated fertilizers at a pH of 6.0. The plants were two years old when described. Measurements and color readings of the plants were taken in Ermelo, The Netherlands under natural light. Color references are primarily to the HTML Color Chart.

PLANT

-   Time to initiate roots: About 14 days at 22° C. -   Time to develop roots: About 22 days at 18-20° C. -   Rooting habit: Moderate. -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted cutting:     About 48 weeks in a 15 cm container. -   Form: Mounded. -   Height (from media surface to top of foliage): 35-40 cm. -   Height (from media surface to top of flowers): 40-45 cm. -   Plant diameter: 35-40 cm. -   Vigor: Good. -   Strength: Good; no need for artificial support. -   Branching habit: Moderately-branched. -   Trunk:     -   -   Main trunk length.—8 cm.         -   Diameter.—1 cm.         -   Color.—Olive Drab 6B 8E 23.         -   Texture.—Shiny.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Internode length.—1.5-2 cm. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Length.—Young: 5-10 cm. Mature: 20-25 cm.         -   Diameter.—Young: 0.5 cm. Mature: 0.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—6 cm.         -   Texture.—Shiny.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Color.—Young: Chartreuse 7F FF 00. Mature: Dark Green 00 64             00. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Single.         -   Stipules.—None present.         -   Size of leaf.—Length: 10 cm. Width: 5-6 cm.         -   Shape of leaf (generally).—Young: Elliptic/obtuse. Mature:             Elliptic/obtuse.         -   Shape of apex.—Lanceolate.         -   Shape of base.—Round.         -   Texture.—Shiny.         -   Aspect.—V-formed.         -   Margin type.—Serrate.         -   Pubescence.—None present.         -   Color.—Young leaves: Upper surface: Forest Green 22 8B 22.             Lower surface: Forest Green 22 8B 22. Mature leaves: Upper             surface: Dark Green 00 64 00. Lower surface: Dark Green 00             64 00.         -   Petiole.—Shape: Square. Length: 2 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm.             Color: Olive Drab 6B 8E 23.         -   Veins.—Type: Cross-venulate. Color: Upper surface: Olive 80             80 00. Lower surface: Olive 80 80 00.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: May until October in Harderwijk, The     Netherlands. -   Blooming habit: Continuous from late spring through summer. -   Bud (measurements made when cluster size was 3 cm):     -   -   Shape of cluster.—Round.         -   Diameter of cluster.—3 cm.         -   Number of buds per cluster.—40-50.         -   Shape.—Ball.         -   Length.—0.3 cm.         -   Width.—0.3 cm. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Shape.—Round.         -   Length.—16-20 cm.         -   Diameter.—16-20 cm.         -   Average number of flowers per inflorescence.—50-60.         -   Typical number of inflorescences per plant.—5.         -   Lastingness of an individual flower.—8 weeks.         -   Lastingness of an inflorescence.—8 weeks. -   Petals: Absent — the flowerheads are composed of florets that have     petaloid sepals (pseudo-sepals) that look like petals. -   Petaloids: Absent because of the exhibition of double flowers. -   Petaloid sepals (decorative flowers):     -   -   Quantity.—9-10.         -   Overall appearance.—Pointed and unfused.         -   Apex.—Triangular.         -   Base.—Flat.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—2 cm.         -   Width.—3 cm.         -   Color.—Hot Pink FF 69 B4.         -   Texture.—Shiny. -   Pedicels:     -   -   Length.—2 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Color.—Multicolored; Hot Pink FF 69 B4 and Olive 80 80 00. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—3-4 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3-0.4 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Olive 80 80 00. -   Reproductive organs: Absent because of the exhibition of double     flowers. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Hydrangea plant substantially as shown and described herein. 